Our Big Bocs Bwyd is a community 'pay as you feel' shop. We work together with the local community and Fareshare Cymru to reduce food waste and provide families and the wider community access to affordable foods whilst saving the environment. 

As a school community, we have been increasingly concerned with rise in the cost-of-living prices. We wanted to engage the community and pupils alike. We have a vision to create a sustainable and ethical future by developing ethically informed citizens whilst supporting our community.

In January 2022, after months of planning and preparation, our Big Bocs Bwyd was finally delivered and set up. Once we got through all the regulations of having this container on site, we opened our doors for the first time just before the Easter holidays.

We have had a strong demand for the shop from it’s opening, with queues of people daily wanting to access this wonderful opportunity. We offer a pay as you feel service, where families only pay what they feel is necessary. We have made some wonderful links within local community including Fare Share Cymru and a number of local supermarkets and high street stores. This enables us to receive food surplus and donated goods on a regular basis.

We have made a garden area to grow our own vegetables and produce on site. This is being maintained by our gardening club during the Spring and Summer term, then Men Sheds Cymru in the Autumn term and who also come to look after the areas during school holidays.

A team of Treorchy staff have recently gained their Level 2 Food hygiene training. We also plan on training parents and members of the community, giving them new life skills and increasing their employability.

Our pupils have been engaged in expanding their knowledge to become food literate. Our recent successful venture has been our Year 6 cooking and vlogging club, who take produce weekly from the BBB and make a affordable healthy meals out of it. They make a video of the ingredients and recipes, which then goes out on our social media platforms for families and the community to access.

The BBB supports families who have been able to purchase food at an affordable price while ensuring families have food to eat and have awareness of healthier choices. The BBB enables stronger and positive relationships between the school, parents and wider community.